Deflatable and retractable wing pontoon or float



Nov. 4, y1947. 1.. N. cRlsPELL DEFLATABLE AND RETRACTABLE WING Pomoou- 0R FLOAT s sheets-sheet 1 Filed Feb. 24,` 1944 INVENTOR L- /YC'rz's/Oell Nov. 4,'1947. v L. N. cRlsPELL 2,429,992

DEFLTABLE AND RETRACTABLE WING PONTOON 0R laOAT` y Filed Feb. 24, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

1N VEN TOR.

L. N. C'z'spell mfamyd;

AITDRNEYS Nov. 4, 1947. LN. cRlsPr-:LL v 2,429,992

DEFLATABLE ANI? REITRCTABL WING PONTOON OR FLOAT Filed Feb. 24, 1944 5 SheebS-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. L. 1V. Caspe! Z ATTE R N EYE Patented Nov. 4, 19h47 UNITED STATES PATENT oEElcE y DEFLATABLE AND RETRACTABLE WING PONTOON OR FLOAT Loren N. lCrispell. Kingston, Pa. Application February 24, 1944, Serial No. 523,702

The invention relates to airplane wing pontoons or floats, and more especially to deflatable and retractible wing pontoons or floats for aircrafts. Y

The primary object of the inventionl is the provision of pontoons or oats of this character, wherein an aircraft can be sustained afloat on a body of water and is possessed of high shock load with a minimum of shock transmission to the wing structure of the craft, greater buoyancy in relation to oat area, and requiring less wing wall space for retraction.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a float or pontoon of this character, wherein the same has iiexibility, thereby affording greater shock absorption than if it was nonflexible, susceptible of quick eld replacement without complete disassembly, and it is of minimum weight due to the use of a small amount of metal in the building of such float or pontoon.

A further object of the invention is theprovision of a oat or pontoon of this character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, readily and easily extended and retracted, conveniently inflated and deflated, automatic in the working thereof, and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings: y

Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View taken vertically through an aircraft plane, showing the` pontoon or float Vand operating mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention by full lines extended, and by dotted lines retracted, respectively.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional View through the plane with the pontoon or float extended.

Figure 3 is an inside plan view of the carrier for the pontoon or iioat body. y

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side view of swinging arm or leg for the carrier.

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the arm or leg.

Fig; 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross section through the pontoon or oatbody and carrier.

AFigure'l is'afraginelitary yperspective View` of swinging mountingu ofthe lg or'arm.

4 claims. (cl. 244-402) Figure 8 is a detail side View of one door section of the plane wing.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure l looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure l0 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing a modification.

Figure l1 is a sectional view taken on the line II-U of Figure 10 looking in the direction of the arrows. Y

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in l the drawings.

Referring to the drawings inv detail, A designates generally a portion of a rigid plane or wing of an aircraft, it being understood, of course, that each vcomplete plane or wing extends laterally beyond opposite sides of the fuselage of the craft and is a unitary part of the latter, while built within the plane or wing is the retractible and dcflatable pontoon or float constituting the present invention and hereinaftery described in detail.

The plane or wing A in this particular instance is constructed to provide therein a well or space I0 having a doorway I Il opening through the under side thereof, and this doorway being closed by double swinging doors I2 and I3, respectively, which are hinged at I4 for opening and closing movements outwardly and inwardly relative to the said plane or wing.

Adapted to swing from and into this well or space I0 is a leg or arm I5, preferably made from plastic material, having the relatively long terminal cross heads I6 and I1, respectively, the head I6 being joined with a tubular pintle or pivot shaft I8, which at opposite ends has journal accommodation in spaced vertical struts I9 interiorly of the plane or wing A, so that the said leg or arm through the doorway I'I and when retracted will be confined within the well or space I0.

HingedA longitudinally of the terminal head I'I i at 20 are the opposed clam shell-like opening and closing jaws 2l, which with the leg or arm I5 create a carrier for an inatable and collapsible buoyant body 22 forming a pontoon or float, it being fixed to the jaws 2| in any suitable manner, and is made from flexible water-proofed material, for example impregnated fabric. Interiorly of the body 22 are spaced perforated partitions 23, creating communicating cells 24 within the same, and effecting wall reinforcements thereto, as Well as collapsing mediums for the said body.

I5 can be extended or retracted,

Supported within the well or space I is an air pump 25, which has its piston stem 26 connected by a pivot 2`I to one arm of a bell crank 28, while the other arm of the latter has Ibreak-jointed linkage connection 29 with a throw lever 30 xed to the shaft I8 so that when the stem moves outwardly of the pump 25 cylinder the leg or arm I will be extended to bring the pontoon or float into position for water contact, and on the stem 25 working inwardly of the pump 25 cylinder the said arm or leg I5 will be retracted into the well or space Ii) within the plane or wing A. The bell crank 28 is pivoted to a rocking support 31I`. to allow for any arcuate movement of the stem 26 on its reciprocation inwardly and outwardly of the pump 25 in the extending and retracting of the arm or leg I5.

Leading from the cylinder of the pump 2.5. is an.

inflation and deation flexible piping system 32 which extends through the leg or arm I5 for communication with the body 22, so that it canV be inated and deflated in the operation of the pump 25, the deflation of this body 22 being had by a return flexible piping 33- by-passing the pump 25, and having a non-return check valvel 34 therein at the point of' connection of this piping with the source of air supply and exhaust line 35 whichV leads to the pump 25 cylinder, this air source for the line 35 being under the control of the operator of the aircraft and may be of any selected construction built within the said craft. Lines 35 supply air tok thecylinder 25 in one direction, to force the piston in one direction, and with a suction created in they line 35, the piston is withdrawnl in the reverse direction. The air pressure is passed into the rear end of the cylinder to moveY the piston to the leftY of the cylinder tomove the pontoonto the position shown in full lines, in Figure 1. After the piston passes the connection of the pipe 32 with the cylinder, air pressure will pass through the pipe to the pontoons for the inflating thereof. When suction is applied to move the piston, the valve 34 is automatically opened and the air is withdrawn from the pontoons through pipe 32.

The door I2 is linked at 36 with the arm or leg I5V for the opening and closing thereof concurrently with the swinging of the said leg or arm, while the door I3 has a spring trip device 3l associatedtherewit-h to be operated by engagement of the jaws 2l, so that when the arm or leg I5 swings outwardly this door I3 will open, and then when the arm or leg swings inwardly the said door willv be automatically closed. The door I3 at its inner face carries a mat 38for the jaws 2l to rest thereon when the said door is closed.

n Figures and 11 of the drawings there is shown a modified form of ponton or float, wherein the deflatalble body 3971s devoid of partitions and in their place are substituted cross straps 40, the said body 39 being carried by the clam shell-like jaws 41I and 4-2, respectively, and the jaw 4I is stationary, in that it is integral with.

the leg or arm 43 andV off-set parallel with the latter at one side thereof, while the jaw 42 is adapted to swing outwardly away from the jaw 4I? at right angles thereto in topping relation to the body 33 when inflated, so that the latter will be disposed at one side of the arm or leg 43, as shown.

In the assembly of the pontoons'or floats there are two or more employed'f-or each craft andl these are evenly distributed at opposite sides of the fuselage of the said craft, in a longitudinal direction of the latter. It is, of course, desirable to retract the pontoons or floats when they are not in use, as well as deflate the bodies thereof. When the pontoons or floats are extended and distended or inllated they are then in a position for proper landing on a water areato sustain the craft afloat and against sinking.v 'Iih'ese pontoons or floats when contacting water sustain the entire load of the craft, and function as shock absorbers when landing the said craft.

A- minimum amount of metal is used in the constructing of the pontoons or floats and cooperating` parts thereof, so that lightness in weight is assured with maximum strength and durability. Easyy accessibility is had for eld servicein repairing and parts replacements. The partitions 23 and the cross strips 40 built within the bodies of the pontoons or floats function as collapsers' thereto;v they` being elastic in kind,

The' stem 26n of theI pump 25y is movable in a guide Ibracket 44* suitablyl arranged within the well or space IB in the wing or plane.

What is claimed is:d

- 1'. A rigid plane'havi'ng-a well therein opening through its lowerm'ost area', a swinging'arml within said well and movable Voutwardlyv ofand retractibl'ewithin` said well, clam shell-like jaws at the outer` end of the arm', la; collapsible body held by said'- jaws, and mechanism within the plane for impartin-g movements to` the arm and inilating" and defl'atingV the said' body said; mechanisrrr comprising an air` pump; a piston in said pump; a stem' on saidv piston, aA bellcrank lever pivotedl to saidV stem, and athrow lever connectedl to` saidy bellcrank` lever; saidthrow lever beingV connected tosaidI swinging arm for the actuation thereof.

2. The invention as described in claim 1, wherein the inflation takes place after the pontoon has been lowered and the deflation takes place as'thepontoon`A is raised;

3; rI-he invention as' in claim- 1, wherein doors are provided` for closing saidL well, a spring trip is providedonone of1 saidv doors, the-other of said doors being connected to said swingingarm, said first door being opened' and closed byv engagement of one of the jaws onsaidf arm with said spring trip, andthe other of' saiddoorsbeing opened andclosed by the' swinging movement of said arm.

4'; The inventionas in claim 1, wherein doors V are provided for closing said; well, aspring trip is provided on one of said doors, the other of said doors being connecteditosaidswinging arm, said- 'rst door beingopenedand closed byA engagement of onel of` the'jaws onsaid arm with said spring trip, and the other of saiddoors Ibeing opened and closed` by the swingingl movement ofsaid-anm, and a source of operating fluid'- is supplied for the operation` of' said mechanism.

LOREN N. CRISPELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following' references; are ofr record in the f'lle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date. 1,866,451 Carden July 5, 1932 f 2,306,269 A King Dec. 22, 1942 2,265,967" Jacobson` Dec. 9, 1941 2,267,615 Mende Dec. 23,v 19.41 

